Second 2009 State Conference Photo Gallery Now Online: The Cafe Marketplace 25th January 2010: The 2009 QRWN State Conference in Toowoomba was a very big event - and today we're pleased to be able to post our second Photo Gallery from it. The latest Photo Gallery focusses on the Cafe Marketplace - an extension of our traditional Conference trade displays which added the cultural competitions, an art show and a health spa into the mix to create something genuinely innovative and different. Our new Gallery features the best shots that were taken of the Marketplace, the exhibitors and the wide variety of goods, services and artworks that were on show throughout the weekend. You can relive the Conference and the Cafe Marketplace (if you were there) or spot the friendly faces of all the QRWN's terrific members and supporters (if you weren't) by clicking here.

Our Jess Spins Winning Yarn! 7th January 2010: Huge congratulations to our very own QRWN member Jess Hodgson (pictured at righrt) who won the 7th annual Spirit of Woodford Original Stories and Yarns Performance Awards at the recent Woodford Folk Festival for her short story “Little Limbs”. Jess was chosen as one of five finalists from 35 entries and was required to perform her yarn ad lib, live on stage at the Folk Festival on Monday 28th December. Jess says she was inspired to enter the Woodford competition following her first ever short story entry in the 2009 QRWN Short Story Competition. “After coming second in the QRWN competition, I searched for a few other competitions and came across the Spirit of Woodford Original Stories and Yarns Performance Awards, which was a bit different to anything that I had ever done before. But I thought I'd give it a try,” Jess explained. “Being chosen as a finalist was a really big surprise. It was so nerve-racking because I was up against some very experienced storytellers, but I managed to speak for just over 12 minutes and was amazed to hear I'd won with a unanimous decision by the judges.” Jess’s story depicted the day her two year old daughter was bitten by a brown snake and is an uplifting look and spiritual reflection on an event which changed her family’s life. “The story is very personal and being able to share it with the audience was an amazing experience. For me it's mainly about writing, creative arts, and finding my feet. I feel that in many ways I've opened a door which I'm very ready and excited to walk through. What a wonderful way to start a new year!” Jess said. QRWN President Georgie Somerset says it’s wonderful to see a QRWN member achieve such a prestigious award. “We're so thrilled for Jess and her success at the story competition at Woodford. It’s wonderful to know that QRWN provided some of the inspiration and confidence that started Jess’ writing through our own Short Story Competition,” Georgie said. “QRWN runs the Cultural Competition at annual conference - it’s an environment where you can step out of your comfort zone, “have a go” and be constantly encouraged by other members.” “For women like Jess, a young mum of three in a small regional town, it can be frustrating both professionally and intellectually. But that’s what QRWN is all about - growing the potential of individual women in regional communities through a collaborative, innovative network,” she said.

First 2009 State Conference Photo Gallery Now Online: The Workshops! 9th December 2009: The 2009 QRWN State Conference in Toowoomba was h-u-g-e and the subsequent reorganisation of the QRWN's structure immediately after the Conference threw a small spanner into our otherwise smooth operations. But things are quickly getting back to normal and for the benefit of everyone who attended the 2009 Conference (and also those who couldn't make it but would like to see what it was like), today we're taking the wraps off the first of several new Photo Galleries. We have to wade through more than 5 CDs of photos to put these new Photo Galleries together. But today's Gallery features the best shots that were taken at the 2009 Conference workshops. And we're sure everyone who attended one (or more!) of them will agree they were excellent, as were our incredible presenters. You can relive the Conference and the workshops (if you were there) or spot friendly faces (if you weren't) by clicking here. We'll have more great new Photo Galleries covering other aspects of the 2009 Conference online for you over the coming two weeks as we work up to our major finale: our 2009 Wearable Art Spectacular.

Artist Offers Something Unique (And Inexpensive!) For Christmas 8th December 2009: Many members who attended the QRWN's State Conference in September got the meet artist Rischelle Brooks in person. Rischelle designed the 2009 Conference logo for us and she was also exhibiting a small range of her artworks at the Conference's Cafe Marketplace. Rischelle's now released a unique range of inexpensive giftware that's made up entirely of her artworks and can be purchased directly over the Net from RedBubble.com. The range includes cards, calendars, prints and T-shirts ranging in price from $4.55 (for cards) to around $30 (for calendars and T-shirts) and anything from $19.50 up to $130.00 for prints. So if you... liked Rischelle's art (and we know many members did) but found her works didn't suit your budget or... you're looking for something innovative but inexpensive for Christmas presents, or... you'd just like to support an enterprising Queensland rural woman artist ...then these new lines may be well worth your inspection. You can see them right now on her website by clicking here.

QRWN At Mt Isa Rural Women's Symposium Photos: (above left) Ann Houston spoke with Maree Parker, Director Office of Regional Development (centre) Wendy agar with QCWA President Marian Mudra (above right) Wendy Agar with Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tim Mulherin 7th December 2009: Our President and Treasurer, Wendy Agar and Ann Houston, made the trek to Mt Isa on Friday 20 November to represent the QRWN at the Rural Women’s Symposium. Both used the opportunity to network with other women’s groups, State Ministers and departmental staff including the Women’s Legal Service, the Local Government Association of Queensland, the QCWA, the Department of Regional Development and the Office for Women. Wendy and Ann said they felt attending symposium was extremely worthwhile and QRWN is now charged with coordinating the working party completing the planning process. This will include teleconferences and a meeting to be completed by January 2010 and the follow-up roadshow which will commence in February 2010. Ann Houston also represented QRWN at the Office for Women’s forum on Women and Aging.

Border Region Gets Resilient 3rd December 2009: Members of the Border Region branch got together on 26 November for a full day session with RRR Women’s Denise Quinn to work through resilience thinking and problem solving strategies. The Border Region branch runs workshops for their members and friends at Clifton - a good central location for members throughout the Killarney, Warwick, Pittsworth, Oakey and Toowoomba areas. If you’re interested in finding out more about the QRWN Border Region branch please call Barb Free on (07) 4612 3249 or (0414) 999-714 or email her. Photo: Attending the Denise Quinn RRR Workshop on November 26th were QRWN Border Region members (left to right) Louise Skidmore, Inger Sorenson, Denise Quinn (RRR Women), Jan Burow, Barb Free, Kim Stephens and Pauline Wilkinson

Meet Your New Board! 16 November 2009: Nine positive, enthusiastic QRWN members met in Miles in the first week of November for the inaugural meeting of our newly elected board. The new structure was developed at our AGM at the 2009 QRWN State Conference in September, and we;d like to give a big "Thank you!" to everyone who voted over the following weeks. The result is a highly motivated group of women, keen to see QRWN grow from strength to strength. 2009-2010 Positions and portfolios are: Joint President: Wendy Agar and Georgie Somerset Secretary: Valerie Sapin Treasurer: Ann Houston IT: Valerie Sapin Members: Lesley Thun & Sarah Due Partnerships: Linda Silburn & Sue Kratzmann Marketing & Communication: Wendy Agar & Georgie Somerset Capacity Building: Lisa Wain & Ann Houston In a new move, the President’s position will be carried out jointly, with Wendy Agar (Charleville) and Georgie Somerset (Durong) elected to the role. Both believe the new Board will help create even more effective linkages for women across regional Queensland. “The founding committee of QRWN envisioned a network that spread across the state like a spider’s web, encompassing all within its reach, with a small central management team to keep it all together,” Wendy says. “The new board structure aims to fulfil this vision.” “I'm really excited at the opportunities that lie ahead for our members and our organisation. The next year will see us focusing on our mission: to grow the potential of individual women in regional communities through a collaborative, innovative network.” “QRWN is for all women in regional Queensland who want prosperous communities. We’ll be working with other organisations, communities and Government to help achieve this, and I believe we make a difference for our members,” says Georgie Somerset. “QRWN has a critical role to play in ensuring regional women have a voice to create influence.” QRWN’s vision is to work with others to have “to have confident, connected, influential and engaged regional women who create prosperous, sustainable and healthy communities.” Above: Meeting for the first time in Miles last week were the nine elected representatives to the new QRWN Board (from l to r) Sandy Blackburn-Wright (Westpac Mentor), Lesley Thun (Cloyna), Sarah Due (Toowoomba), Wendy Agar (Charleville), Georgie Somerset (Durong), Val Sapin (Kingaroy), Linda Silburn (Goomeri), Ann Houston (Toowoomba) and Lisa Wain (Mundubbera). Absent: Sue Kratzmann (Kingaroy)

New Partnership Between QRWN And Blues Magazine Means More Coverage For Rural Women 9th September 2009: The QRWN is very proud to announce a new partnership with Blue’s Magazine. Each month from now on, Blue’s will be working with the QRWN to help profile the work of our country women. Our joint aim is to: Promote the entrepreneurial work of rural women Comment on topical issues affecting rural business/families from the perspective of women who are industry and community leaders, and... Profile women working for their communities, with the environment, in cultural activities and in industry In addition - as part of this new partnership - all QRWN members will now have Blue’s Magazine mailed directly to them each month! We're really thrilled to be able to work with Blue’s, which is a widely respected and well-read industry magazine. And we're very keen to provide stories that focus on the woman’s perspective, but which are also of value to all readers. So we need your help to find those stories! If you’ve got an interesting tale from your branch or district - or have a member you think we should profile - please contact Belinda Pennell on (07) 4168 6064 or email her. High-resolution photos are much appreciated too! PS: We must also thank Bev Ryan who worked with QRWN throughout 2008 to bring stories to our members through the “Honestly Woman” magazine. Unfortunately Bev is no longer producing this great read in hard-copy format and has moved to a new e-newsletter style instead.

Wondai Grand Final Brings Out The Best In Wearable Art 7th September 2009: Talented high schoolers and sisters Sarah and Sheevaun Isaac have taken out the titles in the Senior and Junior QRWN High School Wearable Art grand finals. The finals were held at the Wondai Show on Saturday 29 August and featured amazing creations by students from throughout the South Burnett. Sarah Isaac from Goomeri State School won the Senior division (grades 11-12) with her sky blue, CD covered design “Techno Diva” . Second was Louise Black from Nanango State High School with her black and white “Evening of Elegance” creation. In the Juniors (grades 8-10), Sheevaun Isaac took out first place with “Emo Princess” and Roxy McKinnon from Murgon State High took second with “Let’s Get the Party Started”. Jacinta Hartwig and Emily Rutledge came third with their joint effort “Lady in Red”. Their amazing three dimensional works of wearable art were made completely from recycled products found around the farm. Marg Enkelmann, the High School Wearable Art coordinator for the QRWN, says the event is the culmination of judging at each of this year’s local shows and the winners will now go on to compete in the Under 20’s division of the State Wearable Art Competition at the 2009 QRWN State Conference in Toowoomba on the 19th and 20th September. Photo: (left to right) Louise Black, Sheevaun Isaac, Jacinta Hartwig, Marg Enkelmann, Sarah Isaac and Roxy McKinnon showing off their winning entries in the QRWN's 2009 High School Wearable Art competition.

AACC-DPI&F Inaugural Winter School A Rip-Roaring Success! 1st September 2009: Joann Resing from Townsville DPI&F has just returned from the AACC-DPI&F's first ever Winter School at the Australian Agricultural (see story 13th August 2009) and she reports that everyone had a blast - though it almost killed them! "Boy did we immerse ourselves in computers and the Internet!" Joann says. "The Winter School was a rip-roaring success, but I was very ambitious on what I thought we could accomplish and I think we might throttle back a bit next time!!!" The inaugural class was filled with some of the more influential female sugar farmers in Burdekin region and there's no doubt they'll be strong advocates in the local sugar industry about the need to have good farm-based Internet access and the skills to access online business services. "They loved this Winter School and are keen to register for the next cluster on Farm Finance," Joann says. The Townsville "field trip" was the hands-down winner event as the students learned Internet banking from their own bank manager; printed photos at Kodak; toured a computer repair shop and saw how a media centre was built; accessed the free wireless at McDonalds; and then joined the library online. It was a fun-filled tour of the city as none of them had ever seen it before! The students also loved being at the Ayr Ag College in a residential setting. "Telstra delivered a great session on the Internet and set us up with some brilliant Internet speeds," Joann reports. "So we Youtubed, got everyone on Facebook and Skype and surfed away at lightening speeds even though our mobile phones didn’t work at the college - amazing! Now we're all set to meet via webinar within the month for a class "update". I'm not sure how our one dial-up student will fare – we may have to send her and her laptop into the Ingham McDonalds with her brand-new Winter School headphones to use their free wireless to join our webinar! "And considering that both Tonia Grundy and I had the flu, we managed to keep all those computers humming as we darted from one-to the other fixing, coaching, redirecting and trouble-shooting. Thank you Tonia (and your babysitting husband) for being the best offsider in the world!" "I'd also like to pass on a big "Thank You!" to Robyn Sullivan from the Burdekin College who did everything possible to make our stay on the Ayr campus fruitful and enjoyable. The AACC's campus is a tremendous facility and a real asset to the area."